Hey, next Chapter!!! WOOT WOOT...anyway, this one's a long one, but yeah, I hope you all enjoy it!!!

Thanks to all reviews and to Ducky!

"They did what?" Dodger asked eyes wide open in shock.

"She said tussled, I say full out fight." I said.

"Wow, Media, you're a vicious little one!" Spades added.

"Just don't tell Mush!" Media pleaded.

"Why not Leish?" Spot asked joining our group.

"Because we'd have a dead body on our hands and he'd yell at me." She said.

"Oh, that reminds me Media, we need to get rid of that body in the trunk before we attack the idiot." I said smiling.

"Ah yeah, we'll swing by the river later Acorn." She said playing along.

"Is anyone home?" Mouse called from outside.

"Yeah we're in Angel's room!" Dodger called.

"Ah, watch the eardrum!" I said covering my ear.

"Oh sorry."

"Heya Mouse!" Spot said greeting her as she walked in and plopped on my bed with the rest of us.

"What are you guys doing?" she asked.

"Oh, just recounting Media's power struggle with the idiot yesterday." I told her.

"Who's the idiot?" she asked innocently. I'd forgotten that I hadn't seen her since the breakup.

"Uh, Jack and I broke up." I said solemnly.

"Oh that's too bad. You guys were really cute."

"He ain't cute anymore." Media said giggling.

"Yeah most things aren't after colliding with your fists." I teased.

"You should know."

"And indeed I do." I said rubbing my arm where Media liked to hit me.

"It was a love tap." She said defending herself.

"Would anyone here care to differentiate between a punch and tap?" I asked jokingly.

"Oh shut up." She said tossing a pillow at my head.

"Oh I forgot how much that hurt!" I said holding my head.

"Pillow Fight!" Spades called grabbing pillows.

"Nuh uh, I always get hit in the head and it already hurts."

"Aw c'mon Angel, it'll be fun." Spot said coming after me.

"Spot, don't you dare, stop it, back back you foul beast!" I said pretending to crack an imaginary whip at him.

"Haha." He said pouncing on me and tickling my sides.

"Ah stop it!!!" I screamed. Spot finally stopped tickling me only because he was laughing so hard that he couldn't sit upright anymore. I lay on my back on the floor just laughing and actually having a good time with my family and friends. It had been so long since we had just hung out without someone getting hurt or drama occurring. I enjoyed it when life was this way, simple. Anyway enough of my ranting; a little while later my mom came in to remind us that we were serving at a charity ball that evening.

"Don't forget, black pants white shirt." She said as she left.

"Yes Ma'am!" We all groaned. Tonight was everyone's last night of freedom together, tomorrow Spades, Mouse, Ace, Skittery and Bumlets started back to school, the older ones were lucky, we got a few more weeks, but it was the last night of freedom together and we wanted to celebrate, not waste time serving at a charity ball. Anyway about an hour later we were all ready to go to the ball. It was quite a lovely event; each of us had gone with our parent back before we were old enough to work for it. The staff all turned out to help and serve the vast majority of people who would turn out. We reached the hotel and the crisp scent of winter filled the air as we all stepped inside. Before us were huddled a large throng of people each one in a different hue of color and, since it was a masquerade ball, each person had a mask that was decked out in either feathers, beads, sequins or a combination of all. My siblings and I took our places with the rest of the wait staff, which unfortunately Jack was a part of. Our eyes met for a brief moment when I sent a glare of sheer malice his way. We then set to our task and mingled into the crowd occupying the large ballroom. A few hours into the festivities I headed back into the kitchen to turn in an order, and lo and behold who should show up. None other than the bumbling idiot known as my ex-boyfriend.

"We're running low on the cheese cubes, Joe." Jack said walking in the kitchen.

"Oh, uh, heya Angel." He said when he saw me.

"Hello, Mr. Kelly." I said the coolness evident in my voice.

"Angel what happened?"

"What happened? You want to know what happened Jack? Ok, fine, I'll tell you, I found out that my boyfriend was planning on moving back to New York without telling me. Then when I went to ask him about it, I found out that he had a girlfriend up there waiting for him." I said vehemently.

"Angel, da reason I didn't tell ya was because I wasn't gonna leave. And dere's no oddah goil, I promise!"

"Then who the heck is Sarah?!"

"Sarah, oy, she's an ex-goilfriend a mine, she kept breakin it off and like an idiot I'd take hah back when she asked. I finally got tiahed of it, right befoh I came down heah."

"So what you're gonna stay here forever?"

"I don't know what I'm gonna do, Angel!"

"That's great!"

"I'se sahy, but I don't know." He said shrugging his shoulders.

"I know that I want someone who is honest and isn't going to run off!" I said storming back out to the dance floor.

"So does dat mean I have a chance wid hah?" Jack wondered out loud to no one in particular.

This pretty much went on all evening, Jack would try to talk to me and I'd blow him off. I wasn't in the mood to deal with him at the moment. Finally relief came when the guests began trickling out the door; unfortunately, it took another two hours before we could leave.

I was woken up by Spades running around the house at 6:30 trying to figure out what she wanted to wear; which led to her to knock on my door.

"Angel, can I borrow a shirt?" knock, knock, knock

"Are you even awake?"

"I am now" I grumbled as I opened the door.

"Can I borrow your burgundy peasant shirt?" she asked.

"Bring it back in one piece."

"Aye Aye Cap'n!" she said giving me a fake salute.

"Whatever, just get out!" I said pushing her out the door.

"I need the shirt!" she whined outside the door.

"Here" I said opening the door and tossing it at her.

"Thank you!" she called through the door.

"You're welcome." I said crawling back into bed.

"Stop Shoutin!" Spot yelled from his room.

"Go to bed!" Spades yelled at him as she walked to her room.

"I'm tryin!" he yelled back.

At last peace and quiet had regained the Conlon household with the departure of Spades. I rolled over in my bed and fell fast asleep.

SPADES POV:

Skittery pulled up in front of my house early Thursday morning on our way to school, along with Mouse and Bumlets.

"What is da point a stahtin school on a Thoisday, why couldn't dey just wait til Monday ya know what I'm sayin?" Skittery asked.

"You know Skits, I think everyone who's gone through high school has wondered the same question." I said tossing my book bag in the back seat.

"Ow, watch where you're throwing that thing!" Mouse complained.

"You should just dodge it Mouse." I smiled.

"Ha ha very funny."

"I thought it was."

The trip to school was boring, four teenagers who didn't want to go back to school, yet were being forced to. We all split up, went to our homerooms, and waited until the administration handed out the new class schedules; for the most part they were the same, though for others a few classes had changed.

"Hey Skits, what do you have?"

"Uh, I got, Yeahbook, English IV, Computah, Bible, and Soivice Loinin."

"Let's see, I've got Government, English IV, Creative Writing, Bible, and Health."

"So we got English and Bible tageddah?" Skits asked.

"Looks like it."

"Don't fohget lunch."

"True, we do have lunch together."

Just then the bell rang and we were off to our first class. The day wore on until lunch, when I overheard some freshmen talking smack about Angel.

"Yeah right, it wasn't rape, the slut probably wanted it." Said one punk.

"I heard that she sleeps with some of the guests at her dad's hotel!" replied his friend.

Skittery, overhearing this as well, took my arm as I was about to turn and beat the living daylights out of the two, and tried calming me down.

"Look, it ain't woith gettin suspended ovah, they have dey're opinions, just don't get in a fight." He whispered harshly in my ear.

"But it's my sister they're talking crap about, Skits!" I said trying to bring my boiling blood under control.

"Oh it's not just that one, the whole family's jacked up!" the first kid said.

"The brother belongs in jail!" the second kid said.

"Why's that?"

"Because he's always getting into fights and I heard that he even ruined one of the guests cars."

"Oh, did you hear about the youngest one?"

"The one that goes here?"

"Yeah, well I heard that she's a druggie!"

"NO I'M NOT!!!!!" I yelled at the two fish behind me.

"Well maybe you're not, but the rest of the stuff about your jacked up family is true."

"No it ain't punk." Skittery said turning around as well.

"Well I say it is." The first kid said.

"Well ya bettah be ready ta pay da consequences a ya woids!" Skittery threatened.

"Oh really what would that be?" the second kid mocked.

"That" I said punching him square in the jaw. "No one talks crap about my family!"

I turned when I heard a thump and saw Skittery pounding the first kid on the floor. A crowd had gathered and had begun chanting, "Fight" which brought teachers and the principle running. Next thing I knew Skittery and I were being hauled to the Principles office.

"Now Miss Conlon, and Mr. Goorjian-" the principle started.

"I prefer ta be called Skittery" Skits interrupted.

"Ahem, what seems to be the problem?"

"Well you see Mr. Skaggs, there were these two freshmen standing behind us, and they started talking smack about my family. I tried to just let it go at first but they kept going and called me a druggie!" I exclaimed indignantly.

"The two students, will be questioned, but the fact remains that you still should have come to me or a proper authority to resolve the matter."

"Yes sah." Skittery mumbled.

"We're sorry." I said trying to conjure up my best puppy dog pout.

"So am I, because you are both getting suspended."

"WHAT?!" I shrieked.

"Foh how long?" Skittery questioned.

"The remainder of today and tomorrow. I've already called your parents and informed them of the situation. You are free to go now, I'll see you both on Monday." He said sternly.

"Yes sir." We both replied numbly. My dad was gonna kill me!

"Well on da bright side, we don't have ta be back til Monday."

"Yeah, so comforting there Skits." I replied sarcastically.

"Uh since we didn't get ta eat lunch, can we stop on da way home, I'm stahvin!"

"You are such a guy!" I said. "But yeah, I'm hungry too. I can always wait to get yelled at!"

ANGEL'S POV:

I was downstairs reading a book when I heard a car door slam in our driveway. Curious to see who would be coming by at this time of day, I got up and walked to the window where I saw Spades walking up the sidewalk.

"Spades, what are you doing home so early?" I asked bewildered. "I thought you didn't get out until 2?"

"Under normal circumstances, no, I don't; but I got into a fight and got suspended." She replied.

"Why did you get into a fight?"

"Well, these two freshman decided that they wanted to insult the entire family and Skittery and I both lost our tempers and beat the bloody crap out of them, when the teachers and Mr. Skaggs found out about it, we were both suspended." She said.

"Oh, that's not good."

"No, it's not, now when dad finds out I'm toast!"

"Not to put to fine a point on it, yeah pretty much."

"I'm gonna go hide in my room now." Spades said slumping up the stairs.

Just then a knock sounded on the door. Opening it I saw Mush standing on our doorstep.

"Can I help you?" I asked not sure as to why he was here.

"I hope you can." He said walking inside.

"Uh, you do know that Media's not here right." I said as he walked in.

"Yeah I know, I just got done talking to her, or lack thereof." He huffed.

"Ok, so what can I do?"

"Maybe you can tell me why there are bruises on her wrists and why she's limping." He glared at me.

"I didn't put them there if that's what you're implying." I said trying to defend myself.

"I know you didn't simply because the bruises are to big to be from you."

"What did she tell you?"

"She was kinda sketchy on the details, but she said it happened at the hotel."

"Ok, well, she attacked Jack, who was trying to defend himself rather unsuccessfully I might add. He grabbed her wrists to keep her from punching him, but she ended up taking the idiot down." I gloated over my cousin's victory.

"Why did she attack him?"

"Because he's a blundering idiot." I smiled.

"So in other words she was being protective of you and got into a fight."

"Yeah."

"Is he hurt bad?"

"From what I've seen, yes."

"Well that sucks, because now I'm gonna have to wait until I get to beat him up." Mush said frowning.

"Sorry, you gotta wait your turn, I'm next in line." I said with a menacing smile upon my face.

"All right, I'll wait." He nodded standing up to leave.

"Patience is a virtue my friend." I said closing the door behind him as he left.

BLINK'S POV

I was woikin da desk on Thoisday aftahnoon when a couple walked in. The guy was around 5' 6", dahk hair and brown eyes all around a good lookin fella. Da goil dat was wid him had blonde haih tied back in a bow and blue eyes. She looked ta be around 5'4" or 5'5" and had a dreamy look in hah eyes.

"Welcome ta da Hotel de Conlon, how may I'se help ya taday?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah, do you have a David Jacobs registered here?" the guy asked.

"I'se sahy soi, but dat's confidential infohmation." I told him.

"Ok, thank you." He said moving to the lobby area and pulling out a cell phone. Dey was close enough ta where I could heah him talking on da phone, so I ovahhoid da entiah convasation, dough I waddn't poiposly tryin ta eavesdrop.

"Hey David, yeah we're here, um, can you come down to the lobby and meet us? Yeah, okay, see ya in a minute." He said. A shoit time latah dat Davie kid dat Jack knew was down in da lobby tellin me dat he had anuddah poison (person) stayin in his room and he needed a separate room for da goil dat was wid dem.

"Aight, ya got a poison added and da new room is right next ta yois." I told dem.

"Thanks Blink." Davie said as he walked off. As they were heading ta da elavatah, dey flagged down a bellboy dat happened ta be Spot, now dat was gonna be an interestin ride, considerin what Angel had told everyone bout Davie wantin ta take Jackie back ta New Yawk.

SPOT'S POV

I was called ovah ta help some people carry deir bags up ta deir room. Den I saw it was dat scabbah Dave, who wanted ta take Jack back ta New Yawk wid him. Now as much as I don't like Jack, I didn't want him ta hoit Angel in anyway, so when dis Dave charactah shows up and wants ta take him back, that's just what happened. So now I was stuck bein polite ta da lousy scab and his friends because me faddah would ring me neck if I wadn't.

"So have you seen Jack lately?" Da guy standin next ta Dave asked.

"No, Les I haven't seen him for a couple of days actually." Dave replied.

"Is there anyway we can get a hold of him?" Da goil in da bunch asked.

"I don't know Sara, Jack's stopped answering his phone." Dave told hah.

Sara, wadn't dat da name a da goil who was waitin foh Jack in New Yawk? I thought to myself.

"Well, what if we called from Les' phone? Or mine?" she asked, interruptin me toughts.

"Uh, yeah, you could do that Dreamer." Da kid referred ta as Les said, pullin out his phone and dialin. Aftah a couple a rings, dey left a message on da retahds voice mail, tellin him dat dey had "impoitant news ta tell im."

"So why wouldn't he come back to Manhattan?" da goil asked.

"Oh he met a lousy girl that he fell for." David said rollin his eyes.

"She ain't just some lousy goil!" I said angrily.

"What's it to you?" Dave asked wid suspicion runnin rampant in his voice.

"Because she's me sistah, and if ya call hah a lousy goil again I'll soak ya, ya bum!" I said gettin pissed at da scab.

"Uh, sorry?" he said haltinly. Da bum didn't mean it dough, he was just sayin dat so's I wouldn't soak im. Dey finally got ta deir flooh and in ta da room. I was happy ta be rid a da scabbahs, woulda been happiah if I'd been able ta soak em. Aftah I was done wid Dave and his bunch, I went down ta da desk ta talk ta Blink, who was on da phone when I got dere.

"Heya Dodgah," he said. I rolled me eyes, what was wid alla dese guys goin aftah me sistahs.

"Oh, no reason, just callin ta make shoh dat we'se still on foh tanight. Ok, pick ya up round six thoity? Ah, I shoh what's goin on but, Dave's got a lil bruddah, and he's heah, wid a goil. I don't know who dey ah. Yeah I was wonderin da same ting. Yeah, I gotta go aight, see ya tanight. Ok, bye." He said finishin his convoisation wid Dodgah.

ANGEL'S POV

I was sitting in my room talking to Spades and having a moment of sisterly bonding, when a rapid knock came to my door.

"Come in!" I yelled to see Dodger come in. "Where's the fire?" I asked her grinning.

"No fire, yet." She said.

"Yet?" Spades questioned with eyebrows raised.

"Well, Blink just called me." She started.

"And that's what's causing the fire?" I asked sarcastically.

"Would you just forget about the fire!!!!" she said with exasperation.

"I was just playing with you Dodge," I smiled.

"ANYWAY, he told me that there are some new guests at the hotel." She said smirking.

"And this is news why?" I asked not getting what she was implying.

"Because, there is a guy and a girl who know your friend David." She announced triumphantly.

"OOOkay," I said still not getting her point.

"So maybe the girl missed Jack, and was coming to visit from, oh I don't know, New York."

"Sarah?" I asked, my face loosing all color.

"I'm not entirely sure, but it's a possibility." Dodger said.

"You okay there Angel?" Spades asked noticing my paleness.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." I said mentally slapping myself.

"Who's the guy?" Spades asked.

"It's his little brother." Dodger said.

"Hmm, interesting." Spades commented.

"What are they gonna do, bring down half of New York to get him back?" I asked bitterly.

"Well, if they had to resort to that, it would be obvious that he was staying for something." Dodger prodded.

"Yeah, well, it's not me." I said standing up and walking down to the kitchen to eat something.

Just then Dad walked through the door and he looked irate.

"Hi dad." I said before I noticed the look of anger on his face. "And if you need me, I'll be in my room." I said grabbing the bowl of ice cream from the counter and dashing upstairs before my dad vented his anger.

"BRITTANY!!!! GET DOWN HERE NOW!" my dad hollered from the entryway.

"Oy, I'm gonna get it!" Spades said heading downstairs for the lecture of her life.

I cranked up my music to drown out the fight that I knew was raging downstairs, but I still caught parts of it.

"I'M NOT PAYING ALL OF THAT MONEY TO SEND YOU TO A PRESTIGOUS PRIVATE SCHOOL SO THAT YOU CAN GET IN A FIGHT AND SUSPENDED ON YOUR FIRST DAY BACK!!!!" my dad yelled.

"YOU WON'T EVEN LET ME TELL MY SIDE OF THE STORY DAD!" Spades yelled back. A few moments of silence followed until their next outburst.

"WHY ARE YOU GROUNDING ME?!" Spades screamed.

"DON'T LOOK AT ME WITH THAT TONE OF VOICE!" my dad countered. I then heard Spades running up the stairs to her room and slamming the door. At that moment, I decided that I needed some fresh air. So, I quickly changed into some old and somewhat holey clothes before heading out to the nearest stable to ride a horse through the countryside surrounding it. I picked up the gear and headed over to Shoni's stall.

"Hey there boy." I said rubbing his nose when he came out to great me. He nickered happily when I held out an apple half in my hand.

"Did you miss me?" I asked starting to groom him. After I finished grooming him, I put his tack on and mounted up. I clicked my tongue at him to start him in a good paced trot around the barn just so that we could get used to each other again. We picked a trail that lead away from the stable and began following it. My mind was filled with thoughts, much to my dismay they were mostly about Jack.

Gah, he was such an idiot! Of course so was I, wait no I wasn't…I mean he never actually lied to me. Although he definitely didn't tell me everything, but then who could blame him, I mean ex-girlfriends aren't exactly a welcome subject in a new relationship. Of course when that ex-girlfriend shows up to take him home, it tends to complicate things. Speaking of which, why hasn't he left yet? I mean his friends are here, they're nagging him to go, and then more friends show up still nagging him to go, and yet he stays, grr. Why is he staying? And no, stupid it's not because he likes you or loves you or anything like that. He's probably still getting money to pay my dad back, yeah that's it! Of course he would probably make more money back in New York and just send it to us. Then you have the mail service, and stuff gets lost in it all the time. So, hypothetically speaking, maybe he does still like me, just a little bit. But what chance do I have with "Sarah" here. Stupid clinging ex-girlfriend, can't let him be with a new girl, noooooo. Gah, crap does that mean that I still like him?! My thoughts were interrupted by my ringtone, I'd forgotten that I had my cell with me. It was my mom, why was she calling me?

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hi honey" came her overly cheerful voice over the line. "Just calling to see where you were, it's going to be getting dark soon and I was starting to worry."

"I'm out riding Shoni. I haven't been riding in a while and I needed to get out and clear my head, mom."

"Is everything okay?" the "please let me help" voice taking over.

"It will mom, I just need time to think okay?" hoping that my pleading tone was coming across.

"All right hon, just don't ride too far." She cautioned before hanging up.